That’s how Crystal was able to get the papers stating that if anything ever happened to Sasha or Syrus, she would get custody of her.
“Trust me, I never wanted to leave you but I knew you would be in good hands with Crystal. We kept in contact until the police came snooping around my door and I had to go into hiding,” Sasha explained.
Asia’s ears perked up at the sound of that. She wondered what her mother could have possibly been doing to have the police snooping around after her. Noticing the look on her daughter’s face, she explained.
“Not only was your father the king of Miami because of his drugs, but he also was the leader of a prostitution ring down here in Tennessee. So when I moved down here, I took over where he left off. Even though I’m the ‘boss’, I just sit back and collect the money while I let the workers handle picking the girls, putting them on the stroll, some even get shipped off. I just got back in town from checking some girls out, so I have to go check out these new girls my guy Gunner had been bragging about but that—”
“Oh my God!” Asia screamed.
“What? What’s wrong?” Sasha asked, confused.
“That’s him…he did this to me. Me and Cookie just escaped from there after he tried to rape me. She came in and hit him over the head and we took off before…” Asia’s voice trailed off as she noticed her mom wasn’t even in the room anymore.
Sasha was furious to say the least. She didn’t even know how Asia had gotten caught up with Gunner and her ring, but all that didn’t even matter to her right now. Syrus ran across her mind as she put in the combination to the safe that held her weapons. She knew he wouldn’t have it any other way but for her to take this nigga out. She never really cared for him anyway, but putting his hands on her daughter meant that he had signed his own death certificate.
“Stay here and try to get some rest. I’ll be back,” Sasha said as she walked back into the living room, cocking her gun.
“Can I sleep in your room?” Asia asked as if she was still that eight year old girl.
Hearing that warmed Sasha’s heart. She never thought the day would come when she and her only child would be in the same room again. She just knew that Asia had forgotten all about her and wouldn’t want anything to do with her if she did ever find out she was still alive.
“Sure, baby. But first go in the kitchen and get an ice pack out the freezer and put it on your eye,” she instructed before heading for her front door.
Sasha kept her gun out and by her side as she walked down the street to the house where she kept the girls. She didn’t even bother to knock when she got to the house. She used her key since, after all, this was her house and the deed was in her name. Everyone stood at attention when she came in the house. Gunner was sitting on the couch with an ice pack on the back of his head, nursing his wound.
“Who all in here touched Asia?” she asked with authority in her voice.
Everyone shook their heads while mumbling, ‘Not me,’ as their eyes traveled to Gunner.
“Boss, that bitch and Cookie ran off somewhere—”
Gunner didn’t even get to finish his sentence before he had a hole in the middle of his eyes. Everyone knew Sasha didn’t play when it came to the girls and if you even thought about putting a finger on one of them, your ass was dead. That’s how the police had gotten involved in the first place. One of her girls ended up dead and word was she was seen hanging around this house, so they started investigating.
Gunner was the only one who was dumb and hardheaded enough to go against Sasha. He figured since she was going to be out of town for a few weeks, he could do whatever he wanted to do.
“Get this bitch ass nigga out of my house,” she spat. “And if I find out that either of you put a hand on Asia, you’ll meet the same fate,” she said before walking back out the same way she walked in.
When she got back to her house, she fixed herself a drink and downed it before heading up to her room. Just that fast, Asia had fallen asleep. After taking a nice long shower, she climbed in bed with her daughter and cuddled up to her just like old times.
Chapter Eleven
The next morning, Asia woke up to the smell of food being cooked and a throbbing headache. She had to look around and remember where she was. All the events from last night came rushing back, but the most important one hit her like a ton of bricks. Mommy, she thought as she jumped out of the bed and ran downstairs.
When she reached the kitchen, Cookie was already there eating while her mom nursed a cup of coffee.
“Cookie, how long have you been working for me? You weren’t on the roster when I left,” Sasha asked.
“A month before Asia came.”
“You mean before I was drugged and shipped here,” Asia said as she made her entrance.
“It’s about time, sleepyhead,” Sasha said as Asia kissed her cheek before ruffling Cookie’s hair.
“You just don’t know. That was some of the best sleep I’ve had since before I was took,” Asia shook her head.
“Well, you two look as if you’ve missed a couple of meals, so your plate is in the oven. Miss Cookie here already had hers.”
While eating, Asia explained to her mother what led up to her being there. She didn’t leave any detail out, including her not so much of a relationship with Knowledge. Sasha was ecstatic to find out she had not one, but two grandchildren. She knew as much as she didn’t want her to leave, she had to get Asia back home as soon as possible.
Sasha reached in her robe pocket and pulled out her cell phone. She asked Asia for Crystal’s number before dialing her number and putting the phone on speaker.
“Hello?” Crystal’s voice came through the phone.
“Crystal,” Sasha spoke.
“Oh my God! What the hell! Where have you been? I’ve been trying to contact you for the longest!” Crystal yelled.
Asia and Cookie couldn’t help but to laugh as Sasha shook her head. “I hope your loud ass is alone.”
“Yea, everyone went out to get stuff together for Asia’s birthday…Oh Sasha, I hate to tell you this but—“
“Wait, hold on, Crystal. I have something you really need to hear,” Sasha cut her off.
“Hey Ma!” Asia yelled excitedly.
The phone was silent for a few before Crystal yelled into the phone. “Thank you, Jesus! Asia, is that you? How the hell did you…what the?” Crystal couldn’t even form a perfect sentence.
“I’ll explain everything to you when I can. So what’s this I hear about a party for me?” Asia asked?
“Oh, baby. Your brothers and children’s fathers have decided to throw you a big 21st birthday in the backyard like always, in your memory. Or what would be your memory. They told Mir you were alive but he didn’t believe them since he tore up Florida looking for you and couldn’t find you.”
Hearing that warmed Asia’s heart. She knew her brother wouldn’t rest until he found her or got some information on her whereabouts.
“Ma, do me a favor and don’t tell anyone about this phone call. I’ll be there. I mean, it’s really not a party unless I’m there anyways.” Asia smiled at her mother.
“Definitely,” Crystal agreed.
After Sasha hung up, she noticed the gloomy look on Cookie’s face. Asia noticed it also but her mother spoke on it before she could.
“What’s wrong, Cookie?” asked Sasha.
“I was just thinking about how beautiful it is that Asia has a loving family that cares about her and she actually has family to go to whereas I don’t. My momma kept me from my daddy and moved to Texas when she found out she was pregnant and sold me to a pimp when I was twelve just to support her drug habit. He sold me to Gunner a few months ago so I’m stuck here in Tennessee where I don’t know anybody,” Cookie explained.
“”You ever been to Miami?” Asia asked before stuffing her last piece of bacon in her mouth.
“No.”
“You wanna go?”
“Yea, but…”
“No buts. We leave for Miami in three days and I trust that my mommy is coming to celebrate my twenty-first birthday with me, right?” Asia asked Sasha.
“Of course, but for now get the ice pack,” Sasha fussed.
“Yes, mother,” Asia laughed.
This was the first time she had smiled since Cordae and Linx called themselves kidnapping her. She couldn’t wait to see her family and hug her babies and kiss all over them. The fact that she would be able to share her first birthday in thirteen years with her mommy would make it even better.
~~~~
Chelsea had been tripping ever since the morning she left Knowledge’s house. She knew she never should have gone to see him but she just had to; no matter what the two went through, she would always love him. She truly believed that with Asia out of the picture that they could have their happily ever after. She knew he would be pissed at her for her involvement but she also knew he would never hurt a hair on her body or allow anything to happen to her.
It wasn’t him she was worried about. It was Asia’s brother Symir that she was afraid of. Even though she trusted Knowledge, she knew it wouldn’t be long before Symir came hunting her ass down, which is exactly why she ran. The only thing she was regretting was the fact that she left her baby behind. She didn’t want to leave her, but she would rather her be safe with her father than on the run with her.
“The hell wrong with you?” Chelsea’s sister asked her.
“Just thinking about Serenity,” Chelsea sighed.
“Are you sure it’s just her you’re thinking about. Because you know you could have brought her if you really wanted to, but you left her with that no good ass nigga for a reason.”
“Later for that shit, Kel. I left her with Knowledge because he is her father whether you like it or not,” Chelsea snapped.
“Yea and that’s a mistake that you have to live with for the rest of your life. I’ve been telling you since day one to leave him alone because he ain’t shit and never will be shit. Look what he did to you, yet you’re still standing here taking up for the nigga.”
“Just like when your opinion didn’t matter to me in the past, it damn sure doesn’t matter to me now. Me and Knowledge are going to be together and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do about it.” Chelsea was tired of her sister already. The two never really could get along and were as different as night and day.
~~~~
Symir stood in his backyard smiling from ear to ear. This is exactly the way Asia would have wanted it, he thought as he looked around at everyone having fun. The music was booming, the kids were having fun, the guys were sitting around laughing and joking, Anika and Patience were doing what they did best and that was sitting pretty and having girl talk.
Even though Linx and Cordae said that Asia was still alive, he was having a hard time believing it because he had looked all over Florida for her and even put the word out that there was a reward for any information on her whereabouts and still came up empty-handed.
“Time to sing happy birthday, everybody!” Symir announced.
Everyone crowded around the table that held a big cake with her picture on it and read Happy 21st Birthday Asia.
“Candles, daddy,” Sasha said as she handed her daddy the candles in the shape of a two and a one.
“Thank you, baby girl.” Symir smiled.
“Wait, hold up. I just know y’all are not about to sing happy birthday without me,” Asia said from the patio door.
Everyone froze at the sound of her voice. Symare looked up at his mother standing there and took off in her direction.
“Mommy!” he yelled as he jumped in her arms.
Everyone stood there still stuck as they watched Asia kiss all over Symare. Asia was so overcome with emotion that she didn’t even care that she was smothering her son. She missed him so much that she didn’t want to let him go.
“Mommy, you okay?” Symare asked as he examined his mother’s eye.
Even though the swelling had gone down a little, there was still puffy with a black ring around it. She didn’t even care about the bruises on her battered body now that she was back where she belonged.
“I’m okay now that I’m here with you.” Asia smiled as she kissed him all over his face. Symare giggled as he hugged Asia tightly around her neck, not wanting to let her go.
Asia looked up at her family and had to giggle at some of the confused looks on their faces. “Don’t tell me I rushed my ass home for y’all to act like you don’t miss me,” she playfully pouted.
Symir finally pulled his only sister into his arms and held her as if he was afraid to let her go. Just having her brother’s arms around her again made Asia break down. She honestly didn’t think she would ever see him again when she was lying in that basement when Cordae and Linx had her. Symir pulled back and gently grabbed Asia’s face as he examined her face with all the bruises and her black eye. Asia could see the fire growing in his eyes so she laid her head on his chest to reassure him that she was alright.
“Damn, I missed your little annoying ass,” Symir joked.
“Okay, I know y’all missed me and words will never explain how much I missed all of y’all, but I want to introduce someone to you,” Asia said as she looked back at the patio door as her mom and Cookie walked out.
“Everyone this is—”
“Sasha?” Symir asked, surprised, cutting Asia off.
“Hey, Mir Mir,” Sasha smiled. “You look just like him,” she said, referring to their father.
“As I was saying, rudeness,” Asia laughed. “This is my mommy, Sasha.”
“But how?” Symir asked, confused.
“It’s a long story,” Sasha told him.
“No more surprises today, y’all. You must be trying to give me a heart attack.”
Asia laughed and shook her head as she introduced Symare to his grandmother. Then she walked over to where Khyree and Knowledge were standing.
“I can’t get no love?” she asked with her hands on her hips.
Khyree pulled her into his arms while placing a kiss on the top of her head.
“Welcome home, big head,” he said as he squeezed her in his arms.
Even though Knowledge was happy to see Asia, he didn’t know how to receive her. The last time they saw each other, they weren’t on good terms. He didn’t know how she would act towards him knowing that Chelsea helped orchestrate her kidnapping.
Asia walked over to Knowledge and reached her arms out for Wysdom. It had been months since she had seen her and she had gotten so big. Looking at her, you wouldn’t be able to tell that she was born prematurely. Wysdom started to cry when she got into Asia’s arms which hurt her a little even though it was expected.
“It’s okay, baby. Mommy’s home now and she promises not to ever leave you again,” Asia said as she kissed her cheeks. Instantly, Wysdom started to settle down as Asia spoke to her.
After Asia introduced Cookie to the family and everyone got acquainted, they sang happy birthday to her. She spent the duration of the party sitting in a beach chair, holding her daughter and listening to her son tell her stories. Symir wanted to ask his sister what happened to her and for her not to leave out one detail, but her knew now wasn’t the time. Eventually they would have that talk but for now, he let her be.
Chapter Twelve
Sasha had just finished putting the groceries up when she heard the doorbell ring. She walked out of the kitchen and opened the front door with a big smile on her face.
“Hey, come on in,” she said to Knowledge as she took Wysdom’s car seat from him.
“How you doing today?” Knowledge asked as he and Serenity followed her to the living room.
“I’m doing good. That big head daughter of mine should be here in a minute so just make yourself comfy,” Sasha said as she placed Wysdom in her playpen. “You want to help me cook dinner, lil mama?” she asked Serenity.
“Yes!”
“Okay, come on.”
Knowled
ge looked around the living room and smiled. It seemed like forever since the last time he was sitting in the exact same spot when he and Asia were on better terms. He was wondering what Asia wanted him to come over for but he had a pretty good idea.
“Well don’t you look comfortable?” Asia said as she walked through the front door.
He examined Asia from head to toe. All the bruises and scars had healed and she was slowly gaining her weight back thanks to Sasha cooking her full course meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Unconsciously, Knowledge licked his lips when his eyes reached her hips.
“Don’t pay with me, Omari,” Asia fussed.
“What?” He shrugged. “I can’t look?” he asked.
“That was more than just a look.” She rolled her eyes as she picked Wysdom up.
“Nah, but you look good though.”
Asia smiled as she sat on the floor to play with Wysdom. “Thanks, baby daddy. But of course you know I called you over here so we could talk.”
“Yea, so what’s up?”
“I know she came to see you. Did you fuck her?” Asia asked with a straight face.
Knowledge let out a low chuckle while shaking his head. He thought she was joking until he noticed the look on her face.
“You’re serious?” he asked.
Asia didn’t answer him, she just looked at him with squinted eyes while waiting for him to answer her question. She had her own reasons for asking him if he fucked Chelsea and it had nothing to do with her being jealous. At this point in their relationship, or lack thereof, she didn’t trust Knowledge for the simple fact that he had been lying to her since day one.
This situation with her being kidnapped, beaten, raped, and drugged had her head so fucked up that she honestly didn’t know who she could trust outside of her brother and her mothers. That was the main reason she hadn’t spoken to anyone but her mother since she had been back for two weeks now. She had to go back over her list of trusted people and make sure she really trusted them.
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